Microsoft Office · Intermediate level

Intermediate level · Module 6: Office Skills Portfolio Studio · Lesson 1 of 4

From Brief to Plan

Interpret a manager's or client's request and plan the documents, data and deadlines.

In this lesson you will

  • Identify deliverables, audience and deadlines from a brief
  • Plan the work as a checklist

Key concepts

briefdeliverablechecklistdeadline

The lesson

A brief describes what a manager or client needs. Read it twice and underline every deliverable, deadline and quality requirement.

Turn the brief into a checklist of tasks with dates, working backwards from the deadline and leaving time for checking and corrections.

Plan where files will live and how they will be named before you start. A clear file plan prevents version confusion near the deadline.

Step by step

  1. List every deliverable in the brief.
  2. Break each deliverable into tasks with dates.
  3. Create the folder structure and naming plan.
  4. Get the plan approved.

Practice activity

Turn the NGO Monthly Report Pack brief into a dated task checklist and file plan.

Expected result: An approved plan for the level project.

Check your understanding

  1. Why ask clarifying questions before starting a task?

    Show answer

    To avoid wasted work by confirming purpose, audience, format and deadline.

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